by Reece Butler
“Don’t count on it,” replied Max. “Like his suit, it could be camouflage. Remember, he was the last one to speak with Rivers. He says the mayor admitted to a number of crimes, including having the Sinclair family murdered and Molly taken.”
“But it was Smythe who bought the ranch from the Sinclairs,” added Sam. “He wanted to make himself into one of those English cattle barons.” He smirked.
“Smythe comes from English railroad money, but that didn’t mean anything to the upper class,” explained Max. “He went to the same schools as the sons of lords and earls, but the others wouldn’t accept him.”
“He get revenge?” asked Josh.
Max nodded abruptly. “He went after their younger sisters. One of them killed herself in shame at being ruined. Smythe’s father was quietly given a choice of shipping him to America or Australia, or having his business destroyed. Since the younger brother had a head for business instead of gambling and drinking, dear papa threw his eldest to the wolves. With, I may add, what we would call a fortune.”
“But he lost his home and any chance to grind the ones who caused it into the dust,” said Josh, nodding thoughtfully.
“He lived the high life and made influential friends when he got here. But like many, he was swindled by the railroads. He managed to keep it quiet as he’d bought the shares through others. He headed West to make a new fortune in mining, adding the railroad barons to his list for revenge.”
“And when he found three men speaking in the same high-class accent as those who made his father send him away, he went after them with everything,” said Sam. “Pity Smythe didn’t know Langford was far better at cards. He lost almost everything and swore he’d destroy them no matter what it took. He almost had an apoplexy when he heard they’d renamed the ranch the Double Diamond because it reminds everyone how they won it from him.”
“He get his revenge yet?”
“He tried,” said Max drily, “but it’s difficult when Jessie Elliott, the only daughter of one of the richest, most powerful families around, marries your target.”
“Where did he get the money to rebuild?”
“He suddenly came into the ownership of a few mines, like the governor and his cronies.” Max nodded at Josh’s raised eyebrow. “The original owners conveniently disappeared. I expect their skeletons have been scattered by hungry animals.”
Josh stretched his mouth open in a deep yawn.
“Aw, look at that,” said Sam in a patronizing voice. “Our baby brother needs to go bye-bye. We’d better go do men’s work while he has his little nap.”
“I’ll give you a permanent nap you short little—”
“Enough!” Max grabbed Sam before one could hit the other. “Sam, switch into Josh’s old clothes. We’ve got work to do.” Sam grumbled, wrinkling his nose at the smell, but did as he told while Josh smirked. Max hustled his twin toward the door before they could get into it again.
The bed ropes squeaked as Josh pushed himself into the middle. “Don’t slam the door on your way out.”
Chapter 12
“Couldn’t find Ross, so I figured this one would do.”
Sophie stepped back when Rosa led Nevin MacDougal, hands covering his eyes, into her parlor. Sophie wore the blue dress again, as well as face paint. Nevin was a good friend. If he could be fooled, she should be safe from discovery. Not totally safe, however.
“Open your eyes and tell me the name of the woman standing in front of you,” ordered Lily.
Nevin lifted his hands off and stared at Sophie. She attempted a sensual smile when he blinked at her. To make it more realistic she leaned slightly forward to show more bosom and swished her skirts back and forth. She even batted her eyelashes. Nevin gave her a quick glance, scowled, and set his hands on his hips.
“Is this one of your schemes, Lily? Because at first glance, I don’t know the woman.”
“Look closer,” said Lily.
Nevin flicked his eyes over her, dismissing her as beneath contempt.
“Pardon me, ma’am, but if you’re looking for a decent husband you’d be better to cover yourself a fair bit.” He pointed to her exposed bosom with his chin. “A man would enjoy that in his bed, but not if every man in town knew that his wife had a freckle on the inside of her left breast.”
Sophie looked down. There it was, just as he’d said. She, however, hadn’t noticed. Any washing she’d done was to get clean, and handled quickly, in dim light of early morning or late evening. While she’d touched her breasts for enjoyment, it was always in the dark. Heat rose to her face.
“If you can blush, then maybe you’re not as experienced as I thought.” He gave her another slow perusal. “Dieter Arnott is looking for a wife with meat on her bones. He might appreciate a bold woman.”
“I wouldn’t bed down with that butcher if he paid me a hundred pounds of sausages!” She slapped her hands over her painted lips, but it was too late.
Nevin’s eyes widened at her blast. “Sophie?” He looked at her again, calculating. One corner of his lip curved up. He chuckled. “You look damn fine, Mrs. McLeod. But you don’t have to dress like a working gal in a saloon in Virginia City to catch a husband. You’re pretty enough without it. And unlike Amelia,” he added drily, “you can cook.”
“Bannack City, actually,” replied Sophie. “At Ruby’s Saloon.” She held up a finger before he could speak again. “I’m not dressed to catch a husband. I’ll be working as a dancer named Queenie, to draw Mr. Isaac into our trap. Nothing more.”
“Isaac?” Nevin’s face changed from the open smile of a loving husband, to the cold, still warrior face of his mother’s people. He held his arms loose, as if getting ready to shoot a couple of knives down his sleeves. “You’re not going anywhere near him, Sophie.” He took a step closer and lowered his voice. The barely hidden edge of restrained violence darkened his words. “It’s up to the law to capture Isaac. Not a woman like you.” He held up his hand to stop her automatic denial. “You’re a good woman. You couldn’t act the part of a hussy well enough to fool Smythe. He owns the Golden Nugget Saloon and has bedded many women.”
“Even against their will,” added Lily. She nodded to Sophie. “Show him, my dear.”
Anger at Nevin’s easy dismissal of her burned out Sophie’s nervousness. She sauntered closer, hips swinging. She looked up at him from under her eyelashes. He cleared his throat. She ran a finger over his arm.
“Want a dance, honey? Only five dollars to hold me. Aren’t I worth it?” She leaned in his direction and slightly shimmied her shoulders.
“If you had a husband, he’d put you over his knee for showing yourself in public in that dress. Dancing with strangers would bring a far greater punishment.” Nevin barked a laugh. “You really are serious about this?”
She stood straight, ignoring her clothing and face paint. “Yes, I am. I don’t have a husband, and there won’t be any men strolling into town looking for a wife before spring. We need to catch Isaac before winter sets in, and we need honey to find him.”
Nevin looked at Lily. “This is your scheme, isn’t it? But Isaac doesn’t go near women. He’s called to their rooms and arrives only after they’re stripped, blindfolded, and drugged.”
Sophie fought the nausea that made her stomach roil. Having someone like Nevin speak made it all the more real. She was going to purposefully put herself in danger. It might hurt her, but it would stop something far worse. Pain and humiliation could be overcome, as proven by the women in Tanner’s Ford. Death was permanent. She would be protected, but if she didn’t do this, more women would die. There was no choice as far as she was concerned.
“Sophie is going to be a bad girl,” explained Lily. “A man is going to insist on hiring her, and she’ll refuse. When he ups the price and she refuses a second time, and then a third, Ruby will call Mr. Isaac to convince her otherwise. We know he’s in town and is eager to be hired for some of his special work. When he comes for Sophie, we’ll have the law there
to catch him. We hope you or Ross will help.”
Nevin stuck his hands on his hips, dropped his head, and muttered some words that Sophie knew were not English. He looked like he used to before Amelia married his brother Ross and turned them into a family. Ross had been known as the MacDougal Devil. Nevin came close. But that meant she would be safe if they were near.
“This isn’t a game, ladies.” He looked at Sophie but talked to Lily. “Sophie could be badly hurt, perhaps killed. Why don’t you wait for Gibson—”
“He’s gone,” interrupted Sophie. “He’s off to find some embezzling politicians or something. We don’t know when he’ll be back and we can’t wait and chance losing Isaac.”
Nevin scratched the side of his neck and sighed. “I understand, but I’m not happy about it.” He sent his hard stare at Lily. “Add this into your plans. The Tanner’s Ford ranchers are going to a meeting in Bannack City to buy some railway land.”
“Who, exactly, will be going, and when?” Lily ignored his frown, sitting regally with her hands quietly resting in her lap. Her face was calm and her back straight, as if nothing was amiss.
“One man from each ranch will be there. Trace, Ross, Ranger, Sin, Jed, Luke, Cole, and Zach. And Ben, of course, as our lawyer. We’ll be riding out in a couple of days.” He leaned back, crossing his arms and putting his weight on his heels. “You ladies are not to do anything until we get there.”
Lily tilted her head and gave a ladylike sniff which said volumes about how little she cared for his opinion. Nevin dropped his arms and stepped forward. He set his hands on the arms of her chair and leaned in, crowding her with his size, massive in comparison.
“Lily, I’m giving you fair warning. If you go off half-cocked, there will be trouble. Once the judge is finished tanning your fanny, it will be my turn.”
He stood up and backed away. Twin red spots appeared on Lily’s cheeks.
“Don’t you dare threaten me, Nevin MacDougal.” She growled like a furious lapdog, one with sharp teeth and an inflated idea of her size. “I was here when you still wore short pants, before The MacDougal hauled you down to Texas. I wasn’t afraid of your father, and you can be assured that I am not afraid of you.”
Nevin grimaced and turned away. He scratched his chin, mumbling under his breath. He gave Sophie a glare, as if she could change Lily’s mind. Sophie met him head-on and shook her head. He scowled and turned back to Lily.
“Life was simpler when women did what they were told,” he grumbled. Lily’s quiet snort was ladylike but very expressive. He sighed and shook his head, though a smile hovered around one corner of his mouth. “It’s about time Ross got out from under Amelia’s feet. He hasn’t been far from her since the twins were born, seven months ago.” His expression brightened. “And it’s time for me to take my mother and aunt and bring the elders to stay in the bunkhouse for the winter. While we’re gone Amelia can lure Gillis into bed. She’s been giving him the eye for a while, but he’s being stubbornly noble. Says she’s too petite to have children again so soon.” He winked. “Ross and I’ve been careful because Amelia wants Gillis’s baby next. Give her a day or two and she’ll have him on his back, at her mercy.”
They all laughed at tiny, quiet, stubborn Amelia forcing the huge, loud Scotsman into bed. Sophie knew Amelia had done it before and that he’d threatened her with spankings if she tried anything like it again. Amelia had admitted at the time that she’d happily enjoy a spanking from him, not that she’d let him know it.
“I expect Trace will head out with Ross,” continued Nevin, speaking to Lily, “along with Ranger and Ben. They can iron out some of their arguments before the others arrive.” He nodded, satisfied, and turned to Sophie. “How are you getting there?”
“I’ll be hidden on the Tanners’ regular supply wagon. By the time it stops at Ruby’s for whiskey, it will be dark. I’ll slip out and be inside the saloon before anyone sees me.”
“People know Sin and Luke, but I don’t think Cole, Jed, and Zach have been to Bannack City often enough for them to be known.” Nevin nodded to himself. “They can keep apart and be ready if needed.”
“After what Smythe did to Victoria, Jed is not a good choice,” said Lily. “You remember what happened the last time they met.”
“Jed threatened to string him up if he came anywhere near Victoria.” He chuckled. “You’re right. I’d better tell Jed to hang back.” He sighed and scratched the back of his head, frowning. “You women will be the death of me yet.”
“You won’t be the one in danger,” said Sophie.
“Have you seen Amelia when she’s riled?” Nevin laughed. “She won’t like you taking this risk. None of the wives will. But you’re right. It has to be done, and soon. When is Soph—I mean Queenie—going to be on show?”
“Wednesday or Thursday,” said Lily. “She’ll have time to get settled before getting all uppity. Ruby will call Isaac to straighten her out on Friday, or maybe Saturday.”
“You’re putting a lot of faith in this Ruby woman,” warned Nevin.
“It’s the best chance we have,” said Lily. Sophie nodded in agreement.
“I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes when the judge finds out what you’ve cooked up.”
“If my husband kept his promise and spoke to me about what was going on, instead of taking the train to Helena to talk with his cronies, we might not have had to resort to this.”
“I’ll be laughing if you can’t sit down for a week.”
Lily turned her full courtesan charms on Nevin. “If Ambrose tries to discipline me, he’ll discover I have a few methods of my own to keep a husband in line.”
“Don’t tell Amelia,” said Nevin, holding his hands up in mock panic.
“But do tell me,” added Sophie with a sweet smile.
Chapter 13
Josh, once more dressed in his dirty clothes, checked the noisy street. A few red lanterns hung beside saloon and whorehouse doors. Instead of giving light they only made the shadows deeper. This was not the part of town where people wanted to advertise their presence. But Max stood where his face could be easily seen. That would keep Hames from looking too deeply in other shadows, ones that hid Sam. If Josh bothered to look, he was sure he could make out his brother’s shape somewhere nearby, a second set of eyes for Max.
The three of them might fight like cats and dogs some days, but they were brothers. Nothing could break that bond. Josh owed Max his life for all the times he’d put himself between Josh and their father’s fists or belt. He pushed away useless memories and sidled up to Max. Bent over, shaking like he was eight hours from his last drunk, he held out a begging hand.
“Smythe’s meeting with his bully friend at the Nugget,” he said quietly. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”
“You smell worse than a privy,” snarled Max. He put a coin in his hand. “Take that and get away from me.” He pushed Josh, making him stumble. “Find out what you can,” whispered Max before shoving him harder.
Josh covered his head with his arms to protect himself from Max’s halfhearted blows. He crab-walked into the dark before staggering back to the Golden Nugget. Neither brother would have woken him before morning if he was really exhausted, but he was not one to shirk a job. He’d had an hour’s deep sleep and was ready to last another ten. Maybe he’d spend the next day snoring, but there was work to do tonight.
The bouncer glared at him when he stumbled into the Nugget, but he held up the coin as proof he had money to spend. The man grabbed it and motioned to someone. Smythe and the man who might be Isaac were still in the corner closest to the kitchen and therefore the back door. Smythe looked up, but he barely took notice of the obviously drunk man knowing the bouncer would throw him out as soon as his money was gone. One of the older whores sidled toward him carrying a bottle of rotgut in one hand and two glasses, likely dirty, in the other. She smiled without showing her teeth. She looked like a hag but was likely barely thirty years old.
“Want company
, handsome?”
He ogled her cleavage as if interested. “What’s yer name?”
“Betsy.”
She rubbed her breasts against him and turned toward an empty table. She looked over her shoulder with a look a drunk would consider alluring, before swishing her hips and walking away. He staggered after her, bumping into chairs and other men. He burped and apologized, slapping them on the back with one hand while slipping a few coins out of their pockets with another. When he slumped into his chair, back to the door so he could ogle Betsy—and easily watch his quarry over her shoulder—he had enough money to keep himself there for a few hours.
“Yer a pretty woman, Betsy,” he said, slurring his words a bit.
She gave a practiced smile and filled the glasses. Josh would spill almost all of it. He knew how to appear drunk enough to spend money like water yet sober enough not to become a target. Sam was right when he said he was built like a bull. Few would want to tangle with him unless they thought he was too far into the drink to defend himself.
Betsy had a fine line to keep as well. She could get off her feet while she kept him at the table drinking, but she would make more money if she could get him upstairs. If he passed out as soon as he landed in her bed, she could skim all his possessions and have Smythe’s bully boys toss him into the back alley. The more money she made, the less likely she was to be beaten.
He held up his glass with hers and winked. They both tossed them back. She gasped, closed her eyes, and shook her head as it hit bottom. He tossed it sideways, pretending that his hand wobbled, while her eyes were shut. He slammed the glass down and grinned. Smythe and his guest were having an argument and it looked like Smythe was losing. “More!” demanded Josh, and held his glass out.
She filled hers all the way while giving him only an inch. She likely thought he was more interested in looking at her dirty, bruised breasts than his glass. After their third drink she shuffled her chair closer and placed her hand high his thigh. She skillfully rubbed against his cock, which rose in reaction. She leered at him in delight, but he’d gone without a woman for so long that any female touching him that way would have gotten the same result.
